Operating controls for an offset printing press

ABSTRACT

All normal operating controls of a small offset printing press or office duplicator are combined in a single control shaft connected by cams and cam follower trains to the several operating elements of the press and carrying a single control knob in such a manner that the machine is started and operated by turning the knob stepwise in one direction through less than one turn, and is shut down by returning the knob in the opposite direction to its starting position. A shortened cycle is available.

[50] Field of 10i/141, 142,143.144,145,136,137,140,218

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Inventors Heinz JoachimSchinke Unterkirnach; Hermann Rable, St. Georgen, both of, Germany Appl,No. 786,986

United States Patent Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,601,045

23 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 v 3,601,045

25 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 l 3,601,045

25 Sheets-Sheet :5

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 23 Sheets-Sheet A Patented Aug. 24, 1971 25Shoots-Sheet 5 Patented Aug.' 24, 1971 3,601,045

23 Shoots-Sheet 6 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 23 Shoots-Sheet 7 Patented Aug.24, 1971 23 Shoots-Sheet 8 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,601,045

23 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,601,045

23 Shoots-Sheet 10 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,601,045

25 Sheets-Sheet l1 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 25 Shoots-Sheet 13 FICHAPatented Aug. 24, 1971 25 Shoots-Sheet 14 FIG.16

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,601,045

23 Sheets-Sheet l5 zu; 199 ma; 23a

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,601,045

23 Sheets-Sheet 16 Pahfntcd Aug. 24, 1971 23 Shoots-Sheet 17 FIG. 20195191.

Patentedv Aug. 24, 1971 l 1 3,601,045

25 Sheets-Sheet 18 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 23 Shoots-Sheet 19

1. In an offset printing machine having supporting frame means; a plate cylinder adapted to hold a plate thereon, a blanket cylinder, and an impression cylinder, said cylinders being rotatably mounted on said frame means; first operating means for moving two of said cylinders between an inoperative position in which the two cylinders are remote from each other and an operative position in which said two cylinders are closely adjacent each other; second operating means for feeding damping liquid and ink to a plate held on said plate cylinder and including an applicator roller; paper-feeding means for feeding paper to be printed to said cylinders; and drive means for rotating said cylinders; the improvement which comprises: a. a control shaft having an axis and being mounted on said frame means for angular displacement relative to said axis; b. manually operable knob means mounted on said shaft for displacement therewith about said axis; and c. motion-transmitting means interposed between said shaft, said first and second operating means, said paper-feeding means, and said drive means, said motion-transmitting means including
 1. means responsive to movement of said knob means in one direction from a first to a second one of said angularly offset positiOns thereof to actuate said drive means;
 2. means responsive to movement of said knob means in said one direction from said second position to a third angular position thereof to actuate said second operating means for feeding damping liquid and ink to said applicator roller;
 3. means responsive to movement of said knob means in said one direction from said third position to a fourth angular position thereof to actuate said second operating means for engaging said applicator roller with a plate held on said plate cylinder;
 4. means responsive to movement of said knob means in said one direction from said fourth position to a fifth angular position thereof to actuate said first operating means for moving said plate cylinder toward said blanket cylinder;
 5. means responsive to movement of said knob means in said one direction from said fifth position to a sixth angular position thereof for actuating said paper-feeding means; and
 6. means responsive to angular movement of said knob means from said sixth position sequentially through said fifth, fourth, third, and second positions into said first position for deactivating said paper-feeding means, said first and second operating means, and said drive means in timed sequence.
 2. means responsive to movement of said knob means in said one direction from said second position to a third angular position thereof to actuate said second operating means for feeding damping liquid and ink to said applicator roller;
 2. In a machine as set forth in claim 1 and having third operating means for etching a plate held on said plate cylinder, said motion transmitting means including means for actuating said third operating means in response to said angular displacement of said knob means in timed sequence with the actuating of said first and second operating means, said paper-feeding means, and said drive means.
 2. means responsive to the angular movement of said knob means about said axis from said rest position through a second angle for actuating said third operating means and for thereby engaging said etching cylinder with said plate while said etching cylinder is secured to said frame means, and
 2. a first cam follower member mounted on said frame means for camming engagement with said first cam member in said first axial position of said knob means, and operatively connected to said drive means for energizing the same in response to movement of said cam follower member from an inactive to an active position, said cam member moving the cam follower member from the inactive to the active position thereof when said knob means moves from a first angular position thereof to a second angular position while in said first axial position;
 3. manually operable latch means mounted on said knob means for movement between a first position and a second position, said latch means when in the first position thereof engaging said frame means for preventing movement of said knob means from said first angular position to said second angular position when said knob means is in said first axial position, said latch means being free of said frame means in the second position thereof and in said second axial position of said knob means; and
 3. means for preventing the actuating of said drive means by angular movement of said knob means through said first angle and for actuating said drive means when said knob means is moved from said rest position through a third angle, said second angle being greater than said first angle, but not greater than said third angle, whereby actuating of said drive means prior to actuating of said third operating means is prevented.
 3. In a machine as set forth in claim 2 and having fourth operating means for washing said blanket cylinder, said motion-transmitting means actuating said third operating means in response to angular displacement of said knob means in said one direction, said motion-transmitting means including means for actuating said fourth operating means in response to angular displacement of said knob means in a direction opposite to said one direction.
 3. means responsive to movement of said knob means in said one direction from said third position to a fourth angular position thereof to actuate said second operating means for engaging said applicator roller with a plate held on said plate cylinder;
 4. means responsive to movement of said knob means in said one direction from said fourth position to a fifth angular position thereof to actuate said first operating means for moving said plate cylinder toward said blanket cylinder;
 4. means on said latch means engageable with said cam follower member in an angular position of said knob means offset from said second angular position in a direction away from said first angular position while the knob means is in said second axial position thereof for moving the cam follower member from the inactive to the active position thereof when the latch means is moved from the first to the second position on said knob means.
 4. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, said motion-transmitting means actuating said first and second operating means, said paper-feeding means, and said drive means in response to an angular displacement of said knob of less than one full turn.
 5. means responsive to movement of said knob means in said one direction from said fifth position to a sixth angular position thereof for actuating said paper-feeding means; and
 5. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, said cylinders having respective axes extending in a common direction and being of substantially the same axial length, the axis of said shaft extending in said common direction, and said shaft extending over substantially the entire axial length of said cylinders, said motion-transmitting means including a plurality of cams mounted on said shaft in axially spaced relationship.
 6. means responsive to angular movement of said knob means from said sixth position sequentially through said fifth, fourth, third, and second positions into said first position for deactivating said paper-feeding means, said first and second operating means, and said drive means in timed sequence.
 6. In a machine as set forth in claim 5 click stop means for yieldably arresting said angular displacement of said shaft in a plurality of angularly offset positions.
 7. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, and having third operating means for etching a plate held on said plate cylinder, said motion-transmitting means responding to movement of said knob means in said one direction from said fourth position to a position intermediate said fourth and fifth positions to actuate said third operating means.
 8. In a machine as set forth in claim 7 fourth operating means for washing said blanket cylinder, said motion-transmitting means responding to said angular movement of said knob means from said sixth position through at least one of said fifth, fourth, third, and second positions in a direction toward said first position to actuate said fourth operating means.
 9. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, a washing cylinder having an axis; supply means for supplying a washing liquid to said cylinder; a cam member mounted on said shaft and having a cam face; a cam follower member mounted on said frame means for engagement with said cam face; a segment member supporTed on said shaft; biasing means biasing said segment member toward a position in which the segment member prevents engagement of said cam follower member with a selected portion of said cam face while said shaft is turned in one direction; means on said cam follower member engaging said segment member and moving the same away from said position thereof when said shaft is turned in a direction opposite to said one direction, whereby the cam follower member engages said portion of said cam face; actuating means connected to said cam follower member, said washing cylinder, and said supply means, and responsive to engagement of said cam follower member with said portion of said cam face for first supplying washing liquid to said washing cylinder and for connecting said washing cylinder to said drive means for rotation of the washing cylinder about the axis thereof, and for thereafter engaging said washing cylinder with said blanket cylinder for transfer of washing liquid between said washing cylinder and said blanket cylinder when said shaft is turned in said opposite direction.
 10. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, third operating means for etching a plate held on said plate cylinder, said motion-transmitting means including means for actuating said third operating means in response to angular displacement of said knob means from said first angular position in said one direction to another position intermediate said first and fourth positions, said motion-transmitting means further including means responsive to actuation of said third operating means for further angularly displacing said knob means into said fourth position, and means responsive to said further angular displacement of said knob means for actuating said second operating means and thereby feeding damping liquid and ink to the etched plate.
 11. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, said motion-transmitting means including a cam member on said control shaft, and cam follower means engaging said cam member, and responsive to angular movement of said knob means from said first position in said one direction for actuating said second operating means to first feed damping liquid and thereafter feeding ink to said plate held on said plate cylinder.
 12. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, said second operating means including an ink distributor roller and an applicator roller, said cam follower means including means for first engaging said rollers for transfer of ink between the same, and for thereafter engaging said applicator roller with said plate.
 13. In an offset printing machine having supporting frame means; a plate cylinder adapted to hold a plate thereon, a blanket cylinder, and an impression cylinder, said cylinders being rotatably mounted on said frame means; first operating means for moving two of said cylinders between an inoperative position in which the two cylinders are remote from each other and an operative position in which said two cylinders are closely adjacent each other; second operating means for feeding damping liquid and ink to a plate held on said plate cylinder; paper-feeding means for feeding paper to be printed to said cylinders; and drive means for rotating said cylinders; the improvement which comprises: a. a control shaft having an axis and being mounted on said frame means for angular displacement relative to said axis; b. manually operable knob means mounted on said shaft for axial movement between a first axial position and a second axial position, and for angular displacement with said shaft about said axis; c. yieldably resilient means biasing said knob means toward said first position; and d. motion-transmitting means interposed between said shaft, said first and second operating means, said paper-feeding means, and said drive means for actuating said operating means, said paper-feeding means and said drive means in timed sequence in response to angular displacement of said knob means, said motion-Transmitting means including
 14. In a machine as set forth in claim 13, said knob means being formed with a recess, said latch means including a button member moving inward of said recess during movement of the latch means from the first to the second position, and a spring member interposed between said knob means and said button member for biasing the same outward of said recess.
 15. In a machine as set forth in claim 13, blocking means blocking angular movement of said knob means from said first angular position in a direction away from said second angular position.
 16. In a machine as set forth in claim 15, means defining third through eighth consecutive angular positions of said knob means offset from said second angular position in a direction away from said first angular position, said motion-transmitting means responding to movement of said knob means from the sixth angular position to the seventh angular position for actuating said paper-feeding means.
 17. In a machine as set forth in claim 16 said motion-transmitting means responding to movement of said knob means from the fifth angular position to said sixth angular position for actuating said first operating means and for thereby moving said foil cylinder and said blanket cylinder into the operative positions of the same.
 18. In an offset printing machine having supporting frame means; a plate cylinder adapted to hold a plate thereon, a blanket cylinder, and an impression cylinder, said cylinders being rotatably mounted on said frame means; first operating means for moving two of said cylinders between an inoperative position in which the two cylinders are remote from each other and an operative position in which said two cylinders are closely adjacent each other; second operating means for feeding damping liquid and ink to a plate held on said plate cylinder; paper-feeding means for feeding paper to be printed to said cylinders; and drive means for rotating said cylinders; the improvement which comprises: a. a control shaft having an axis and being mounted on said frame means for angular displacement relative to said axis; b. manually operable knob means mounted on said shaft for displacement therewith about said axis; c. etching means for etching a plate held on said plate cylinder, said etching means including an etching cylinder, securing means releasably securing said etching cylinder to said frame means, and third operating means for engaging said etching cylinder with a plate held on said plate cylinder; and d. motion-transmitting means interposed between said shaft, said first, second, and third operating means, said paper-feeding means, and said drive means for actuating said operating means, said paper-feeding means and said drive means in timed sequence in response to angular displacement of said knob means, said motion-transmitting means including
 19. In a machine as set forth in claim 18, said knob means being secured on said shaft against angular displacement relative to said shaft, but axially movable, said motion-transmitting means including means deactivating said drive means in response to axial movement of said knob means from one to the other of two axial positions.
 20. In a machine as set forth in claim 19, locking means locking said knob means against movement from said angular rest position while in said other axial position, and manually operated releasing means for releasing said knob means from said locking means.
 21. In a machine as set forth in claim 18, said motion-transmitting means further including blocking means for blocking angular movement of said knob means from said rest position through an angle greater than said third angle until said plate cylinder has been rotated by said drive means through a full revolution when said etching cylinder is secured to said frame means.
 22. In a machine as et forth in claim 21, advancing means responsive to rotation of said plate cylinder through said revolution for angularly advancing said shaft and said knob means away from said rest position of the knob means beyond said third angle.
 23. In a machine as set forth in claim 22, manually operated means for inactivating said advancing means.
 24. In a machine as set forth in claim 21, control means connected to said blocking means and to said third operating means and manually movable between an active position and an inactive position, said control means in the inactive position permitting operation of said blocking means and of said third operating means, said control means in the active position inactivating said blocking means and preventing the actuating of said third operating means, said motion-transmitting means including means for moving said control means from the active to the inactive position thereof in response to movement of said knob means away from said rest position beyond said third angle.
 25. In a machine as set forth in claim 18, an applicator roller adapted to be secured to said frame means by said securing means when said etching cylinder is released from the frame means, and means responsive to the securing of said applicator roller to said frame means for keeping said applicator roller engaged with a plate held on said plate cylinder while the plate cylinder is being rotated by said drive means. 